BRACHYGLUTINI 163 



Described on two specimens, collected by the author on Barro Colorado 

 Island, Gatun Lake, Panama Canal Zone. Holotype male on July 5, 1936, in 

 the gallery of the termite, Nasutitermes ephratae (Holmgren) in a log at 

 Armour 8. Allotype female on June 30, 1936, at a light at 10:00 p.m. 



I associate the female with the male on the very close agreement in nu- 

 merous structural details, including the peculiar modification of the distal seg- 

 ment of the maxillary palpi. The two sexes are readily told apart by the an- 

 tennae, last sternite and male armature of the trochanters, anterior tarsi, 

 metastemum and numerous other points. 



Since the male was taken within the darkness of the termite nest (4:00 

 p.m.), while the female was taken at night, there is indirect evidence that (1) 

 the species may be a facultative synoekete, and (2) the species follows the 

 family rule of nocturnality. With respect to the former, the beetle was not seen 

 to be molested by the termites in any way. Regarding this species, Professor 

 Emerson, who identified all host termites in this study, has the following com- 

 munication on the possible host: 



"Nasutitermes ephratae (Holmgren) and Nasutitermes corniger (Motschul- 

 sky) are the two most commonly collected termites on Barro Colorado Island, 

 not because they are the most abundant, although they are actually numerous, 

 but because they also build conspicuous nests and covered tunnels, so they 

 stand out a little more in the general landscape than some other species which 

 are actually more numerous, but live in relatively concealed places. 



Two other species of the same genus also occur on the island, Nasutiter- 

 mes columbicus and Nasutitermes nigriceps. N. ephratae was originally de- 

 scribed from Surinam and is common throughout South and Central America 

 from the Amazon region north. N.corniger was originally described from 

 Panama and is common on the Pacific coast of South America, and Central 

 America on both coasts. It has a very closely related species, N.costalis in 

 the West Indies and northern South America, east of the Andes and from 

 the Amazon valley north." 



Xybarida nasicola does not appear to have the behavior, or the peculiar 

 morphological extravagances of symphilic beetles, but on the other hand appears 

 to be perfectly at home, and tolerated by the termites so that we may assign it 

 the role of a synoekete pending further information. 



This species does not appear to be even closely related to other species of 

 the genus. The genus may be listed as follows: 



clavata Raffray. 1896. Brazil. Genotype. 

 nasicola new species. Panama Canal Zone. 

 punctulum Raffray. 1904. Brazil. 

 pusilla (Schaufuss). 1879. Mexico. (Bryaxis) 



BERDURA (Reitter, 1881) 



This is a small genus with abnormal maxillary palpi, found in the Antilles 

 and the Panama Canal Zone. It has affinities with Scalenarthrus of the neo- 

 tropical fauna on the one hand, and also with the monotypic Berlara crassi- 

 palpis Reitter of Java. The combination of distant posterior coxae, ventral 



